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of God's word, and by experience, to find out that or those sins, and then be as careful to avoid them.

SECT. 2. CONCERNING SUPERIORS AND INFERIORS.

There are other works also, such as concern you as you are a superior, and in authority; or as you are inferior, and subject, either in family, church, or commonwealth; in doing which you must act for the glory of God, following the directions of his word and Spirit.

1. As you are a superior, 1st. Walk worthy of all honour and due respect, behaving yourself in your place with such holiness, wisdom, gravity, justice, and mercy; and observing such a medium between too much rigour and remissness, between straining your authority too far, and relaxing it too much, that those under your charge may have cause to fear and love you, Lev. xxv. 43.

2. Wait on your office, and be watchful over your charge with all diligence and faithfulness; using all good means to direct and preserve them in the duties of godliness and honesty, 1 Tim. ii. 2, which is the only end why God has set you over them. The means are, (1.) Go before them in good example. Examples of superiors have a kind of constraining power, working strongly and insensibly upon inferiors. (2.) Pray with and for them, Job i. 5. (3.) Command only things lawful, possible, and convenient, and only those to which the extent of your authority from God and man doth allow you. (4.) As much as in you lies, procure for them the means, and put them upon the opportunities of being, and of doing good, Exod. xx. 8 - 10. (5.) Prevent likewise and remove all occasions of their being, and of doing evil. (6.) Protect and defend them, according to your power from all wrongs and injuries, (7.) When they do well, encourage them, by letting them see that you take notice as readily of their well-doing, as of their faults, Psa. ci. 6; and so far as is fit, let them have the praise and